AQA · GCSE · Combined Science
Course version: 8464 · Version from Sept 2018
Maintaining biodiversity: protection and regeneration of rare habitats
Rare habitats support species found in few other places, so losing one can mean losing whole populations.
Checked against the AQA 8464 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 5 of 8
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Rare habitats support species found in few other places, so losing one can mean losing whole populations. Protection means keeping a habitat as it is: designating a site, restricting damaging activities such as drainage, ploughing or building, and controlling pollution and invasive species. Regeneration means actively restoring what has been degraded, for example clearing scrub from chalk grassland, blocking drainage ditches to rewet a bog, or replanting native trees. A useful method is to compare a site with a nearby undamaged reference area, then monitor indicator species over years. Protection and regeneration both raise biodiversity by giving rare species space to survive and breed.
What earns the marks
- Protection keeps an existing rare habitat intact by limiting damaging human activities such as building, drainage, ploughing and pollution.
- Regeneration restores a degraded habitat through active management, for example rewetting a bog or clearing scrub from chalk grassland.
- Rare habitats matter because they contain specialised species that cannot easily survive elsewhere, so damage can cause local extinction.
- Monitoring against a reference site or using indicator species shows whether protection and regeneration are working.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing protection with regeneration.
Put it right: Protection maintains a habitat as it is, while regeneration actively repairs damage.
Assuming rare habitats are only remote wilderness.
Put it right: Rare habitats can be small local sites such as a fen or heathland near a town.
Thinking one survey proves success.
Put it right: Monitoring must be repeated over time to show a real trend in species numbers.
Exam tips
- Name a specific rare habitat and one threat to it, then link each management action to the species it helps.
- Use the words protection and regeneration separately so the examiner can see you know the difference.
- When asked to evaluate, compare the site before and after management and mention a control or reference area.
Try the lesson
The start of the Maintaining biodiversity: protection and regeneration of rare habitats lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
A rare wetland habitat has been damaged by drainage. Which action describes the regeneration of this habitat to maintain biodiversity?
Listen
Rare habitats support species found in few other places, so losing one can mean losing whole populations. Protection means keeping a habitat as it is: designating a site, restricting damaging activities such as drainage, ploughing or building, and controlling pollution and invasive species. Regeneration means actively restoring what has been degraded, for example clearing scrub from chalk grassland, blocking drainage ditches to rewet a bog, or replanting native trees. A useful method is to compare a site with a nearby undamaged reference area, then monitor indicator species over years. Protection and regeneration both raise biodiversity by giving rare species space to survive and breed. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Protection keeps an existing rare habitat intact by limiting damaging human activities such as building, drainage, ploughing and pollution. Regeneration restores a degraded habitat through active management, for example rewetting a bog or clearing scrub from chalk grassland. Rare habitats matter because they contain specialised species that cannot easily survive elsewhere, so damage can cause local extinction. Monitoring against a reference site or using indicator species shows whether protection and regeneration are working. Exam tip: Name a specific rare habitat and one threat to it, then link each management action to the species it helps.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Protection
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Regeneration
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Biodiversity
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Indicator species
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Protection
- Keeping an existing rare habitat intact by limiting damaging human activities such as building, drainage, ploughing and pollution.
- Regeneration
- Restoring a degraded habitat through active management, for example rewetting a bog or clearing scrub from chalk grassland.
- Biodiversity
- The range of species and the genetic variation within them, which both approaches maintain by preserving or rebuilding.
- Indicator species
- Organisms used in monitoring against a reference site to show whether protection and regeneration are working.
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